Legal and business affairs essentials for producers and line producers in scripted high-end TV and film

Legal and commercial decisions are the foundations on which every production is built. 

For the producers and line producers who are the nexus for those decisions, it is a complex and daunting landscape – and a great responsibility.  This training programme is here to help. 

Taught by the experts behind some of the biggest hits of hits of recent years, including Adolescence, Conclave and The Zone of Interest, this online course will give you a thorough grounding in the myriad of legal and business affairs challenges involved in scripted high-end TV and film production, and help you navigate them with confidence. 

From development to production, financing to compliance, this intensive online programme will take you step-by-step through the key issues a producer and line producer needs to deal with. 

In addition to the core training, participants will get access to exclusive Masterclasses into specialist topics like bonds, talent contracts and more. 

Delegates will emerge from the scheme with a solid understanding of the main legal and business affairs considerations - everything from optioning to SPVs, tax credits to clearances, libel to waterfalls, crew agreement to co-pros and much, much more – know what questions to ask, the potential pitfalls to be aware of, and possible solutions. 

This training is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions and by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions. It will be delivered by DV Talent in collaboration with Lee & Thompson 

Who it's for

This training is for producers and line producers working in scripted high-end TV and film.

If you are a production manager or production coordinator working in high-end TV and film, click here to apply for the relevant course.

You will need a proven track-record of relevant professional industry experience. 

This is a nationwide programme, delivered online, so we welcome applications from across the UK. 

We always welcome applications from under-represented groups, including, but not limited to: those from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We offer inclusive training. If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, or would like support completing the booking form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email: training@dvtalent.co.uk 

What it covers

The main course content will consist of 4 x 2-hour online sessions plus additional masterclasses throughout.  

Module 1 - DEVELOPMENT

• Overview of producer/ LP’s legal and business affairs responsibilities
• Legal risks across the project lifecycle 
• Underlying book options – making the deal
• Life rights
• Writer Agreements - treatments, writer formats including issues such as turnaround
• Development funding – typical sources, advantages of own funding pot
• Co-production agreements - structure, benefits 

Module 2 - FINANCING 

• Standard funding structures for high-end television & film
• Setting up an SPV - considerations linked to your funding structure
• Parent company guarantees - when and how are these relevant
• Funding agreements with broadcasters & streamers - typical deal points & how these differ
• Distribution agreements - typical deal points
• Relevance of regional funding and how these agreements work
• Tax credit funding - how this works including how these monies are accessed and what paperwork is required
• Planning Your Funding Arrangements and the Timing of Paperwork
• Co-productions/co-commissions, US studios etc

Module 3 -  COMPLIANCE 

• Issues with Living Persons (even when not actually named, e.g. Baby Reindeer)
• Libel reads of final scripts & finished tapes before take lock (including relevance for insurance)
• AI – usage and pitfalls
• Privacy issues where appropriate
• Clearances
• Immigration & Visas – issues to consider

Module 4 -  PRODUCTION 

• Planning your production & cashflow needs before engaging third parties and FX awareness
• How the waterfall works (cashflow, budget and residuals/bonuses as per cast agreements etc below)
• Cast agreements – Typical deal points including bonuses, residuals & special clearances linked to the commissioning arrangements
• Location agreements
• Insurances - including errors and omissions insurance
• Safeguarding - anti-harassment/ anti-bullying
• Composer agreements   
• Music Publishing and Master Recording Clearances
• Heads of Department and Crew Agreements       
• Other production agreements: executive producer, producer, director

Training Providers: 

DV TALENT has been at the forefront of training professionals in TV and film for than 20 years. Our teaching ethos is to combine theory and practice, and laser focused on the realities of production: our tutors are all current, acclaimed practitioners so, as a trainee, you’ll be learning the latest trends and up-to-date best practices in production and commissioning, be it for terrestrial TV network, streamer or feature film.  As a training provider our clients include all the major Indies and Networks (terrestrial and streamers), and we are a preferred supplier to both the BBC and ITV.  https://www.wedeveloptalent.co.uk/

LEE & THOMPSON represents the interests of some of the most talented and groundbreaking individuals and innovative businesses in the creative industries today. Our market leading film & TV teams have decades of global content industry knowledge, supporting clients on legal and business affairs services across hundreds of productions every year. Alongside our commercial/IP lawyers, our highly experienced litigators, corporate and employment lawyers all strive to ensure that our clients can protect and realise the value of their creativity.  As the firm continues to grow and thrive,  our people remain faithful to our founders Robert Lee and Andrew Thompson’s original ambition of providing high quality legal services delivered by a team of first-rate lawyers who are deeply embedded in the industry, committed to a culture of professionalism, pragmatism and fairness.

How to apply

Each course consists of four online modules, stripped across a week (Monday-Thursday). All four modules are mandatory. 

Please choose the course start date and time best suits you. 

Course 1: Monday 23 February to Thursday 26 February: 09.00-11.00 

Course 2: Monday 23 March to Thursday 26 March: 12.00-14.00

Course 3: Monday 27 April to Thursday 30 April: 18.00-20.00

Course 4: Monday 1 June to Thursday 4 June: 09.30-11.30 

Course 5: Monday 29 June to Thursday 2 July: 12.00-14.00

Course 6: Monday 7 September to Thursday 10 September: 09.30-11.30 

Course 7: Monday 5 October to Thursday 8 October: 12.00-14.00

Course 8: Monday 2 November to Thursday 5 November: 09.30-11.30 

Course 9: Monday 30 November to Thursday 3 December: 12.00-14.00

If you are unable to make a specific date on your scheduled course, we may be able to accommodate you on a subsequent one. 

Click ‘apply now’ to apply for your place.

Contact information

Email: training@dvtalent.co.uk